40 newly adopted children witness their families honored at Liberty State Science Center

Families of newly adopted children were congratulated and thanked Saturday morning at a ceremony at the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City.

While state officials, nonprofits and event sponsors congratulated more than 30 families on their decision to adopt, more than 40 of the children happily chatted and played, oblivious to what was going on.

“Thank you for your ultimate sacrifice, for opening up your homes, your hearts,” said Miguelina Nunez, a member of the nonprofit Foster and Adoptive Family Services. “I hope it doesn’t end here - there are so many children out there who need families.”

Seventy-six children have been adopted in Hudson County so far this year, including 15 who were adopted Friday, according to Jean Marimon, area director for the state’s Division of Child Protection and Permanency for Hudson and Essex Counties.

“This year is the first time (we’ve held this event),” she said. “We want to recognize every child, every family that has adopted children.”

Nawalah Paula-Hess, 14, was adopted by her grandmother, Kathi Hess, this past March after it was determined her mother could no longer take care of her.

Nawalah said getting adopted felt “surreal.”

“For me, I didn’t think my life would turn out this way, but it was for the better, it was to improve my life,” she said.

Her grandmother described the adoption process as “bittersweet” but encouraged families considering adoption to seriously look into their options.

“Look into any resource that you can. Contact your local youth and protection services,” she said. “(The resources) are there, it can be done.”

United Way of Hudson County, the Hudson County Court of Appointed Special Advocates, United Parcel Services and other organizations also attended the event.